I am just going outside and may be some time.

I love cultural Easter Eggs.  A while ago I heard the character, Mrs. Marlowe, in the New Zealand series The Brokenwood Mysteries deliver this line in the regular dialog: 

I'll just be stepping out for a while and might be some time.

That is clearly a reference to the famous Captain Oates of the tragic Captain Robert Falcon Scott 1911 expedition to the South Pole, Terra Nova expedition.  

Lawrence Edward Grace "Titus" Oates (17 March 1880 – 17 March 1912) was a British army officer, and later an Antarctic explorer, who died from hypothermia during the Terra Nova Expedition when he walked from his tent into a blizzard. His death, which occurred on his 32nd birthday, is seen as an act of self-sacrifice when, aware that the gangrene and frostbite from which he was suffering was compromising his three companions' chances of survival, he chose certain death for himself in order to relieve them of the burden of caring for him.

[snip]

According to Scott's diary entry of 16 or 17 March (Scott was unsure of the date but thought the 17th correct), Oates had walked out of the tent the previous day into a −40 °F (−40 °C) blizzard to his death. Scott wrote in his diary: "We knew that poor Oates was walking to his death, but though we tried to dissuade him, we knew it was the act of a brave man and an English gentleman." According to Scott's diary, as Oates left the tent he said, "I am just going outside and may be some time."

I thought, good grief, this is more sophisticated writing than I had realized.  I wonder how many other cultural Easter Eggs I have failed to notice?  Apparently it was an aberation because I have not identified any others.  

As it turns out, it was introduced into the script by the actress herself.  Mrs. Marlowe was played by Elizabeth McRae.  She had decided to retire after Season Seven and that piece of dialogue was her subtle way of letting viewers know she would not be back for Season Eight.

I am sorry to see her go but:  Respect!